Ways to Overcome Writer's Block

Being a fiction writer, although not a famous one like J.K.Rowling or Dean Koontz, I sometimes find myself blocked off from creative drive. It's a very frustrating feeling that usually leaves me pacing in my room, staring idly at a blank page on my laptop screen, or pulling at the roots of my hair with aggravation. I hate the feeling of getting stuck... but there are several ways to break the fetters of imaginative inactivity. Here are some methods of "breaking the block" that I tend to use whenever I hit a snag in my flow of writing.

• Listen to music that you aren't familiar with. Listening to the radio or to your own playlist can start to get boring or unimaginative because you tend to hear the same songs over and over again. Sure, there might be a song or two that you're really fond of but after listening to them several times, one would tend to get irritated with them. Try listening to songs or genres that you're not familiar with or--better yet-- try listening to songs that you don't particularly like. You can even try listen to instrumental songs so that you won't be distracted by song lyrics while you're writing.

• Find inspiration in real life situations and experiences. In a very well thought out piece of written fiction, a good author tends to mix pieces of their own life experiences into their works. Sometimes, they would go as far as to write direction accounts of real life events-- no matter how personal they are--that they had actual witnessed or participated in. A good author sometimes uses they're talents of writing as therapy for words they are unable to say out loud. Why not try to do the same?

• Try to find a place where you feel creatively free. It doesn't have to be a coffee shop or a bookstore but just as long as you find a comfortable place where you can reflect on your ideas without distraction or stifling outlets.If writing in your office or home isn't working for you, try a different, more open location.

• Take a break and do something else. If your writing isn't to your liking for the moment, try to take a short break and do something else. Try doing some chores or start reading a new book. Get your mind off of your developing plot for a short while and focus on something completely different. When you get back to writing, you won't feel so stressed or pressured to get your creative flow going.

• Brainstorm with a friend, whether they are a writer or not. Other people might give you sparks of inspiration when you find yourself stuck. Sit down with your friend or fellow writer and talk out the plot of your story. They could help you break through a particularly complex part of your story outline or even give you ideas for a new story.

Hopefully one or several of these methods will help those who are having trouble with writing, whether it be a short story, an article, or the beginnings of an actual novel. Take care and keep on writing.